With more than 50% increase over our average enrollment over the past four sessions, 28 students joined us from across the continent. Seven new students joined us for the first time, some earning scholarships to support their learning.

Our ULA program continued to become more diverse, by race, ethnicity, gender, age, and national origin. This not only demonstrates our commitment to accessibility, but to playing a part in fostering a more diverse and talented labor movement.

We are excited for four of our students who have finished their coursework and are preparing for graduation. We will be sad to see them go.

Four visiting faculty joined Labor Studies Professor Tom Juravich, including one who taught in the ULA program for the first time: Armando Ibarra, Associate Professor in the School for Workers at University of Wisconsin Madison.

Photo of Armando Ibarra, by Paul Shoul.

Ibarra taught Labor, Race and Immigration, studying historical and contemporary scholarship on race, immigration, and labor, and addressing theories and debates pertaining to the economic, cultural, and sociopolitical dimensions of the Latina/o experience in the United States.

Our core Organizing course was taught by Gordon Lafer, Associate Professor at the University of Oregon’s Labor Education and Research Center. This course introduces the principles and practices of union organizing, with topics including theories of organizing, internal and external organizing, and a case analysis of current organizing campaigns.

Priscilla Murolo, Professor of History at Sarah Lawrence College and director of the graduate program in women’s history, taught Labor History. This course examines development of capital-labor relations, U.S. unions, labor relations systems, and working class culture from the early 1800s to present.

Photo of Priscilla Murolo, by Paul Shoul.

Collective Bargaining was taught by Rebecca Givan, Associate Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations in the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers. This course provides an overview of the theory and practice of collective bargaining, including analysis of different approaches to bargaining, the negotiations process, contract campaigns, and implementing a contract under the law.